06 LC
37 0106
House
Resolution 1680
By:
Representatives Thomas of the
55th,
Williams of the
165th,
Beasley-Teague of the
65th,
Dean of the
59th,
Sinkfield of the
60th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Commending
Empress Itege Menen Asfaw and proclaiming March 25, 2006, as Empress Itege Asfaw
Day; and for other purposes;
WHEREAS,
on March 25, 2006, Empress of Zion in partnership with the Abarra Movement, a
Rastafari women's international organization, will host the 4th annual Empress
Menen Conference at Spelman College in Atlanta; and
WHEREAS,
hundreds of Rastafari women will gather for reasoning, plenary sessions,
workshops, and youth presentations on the theme "Collective Security for
Repatriation Surety"; and
WHEREAS,
Empress Itege Menen Asfaw was born on March 25, 1883, in the Wollo Province of
the Ambassel Region; a daughter of King Mikael of Wollo, she was coronated
alongside His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I on November 2, 1930, as Queen of
Ethiopia, the only unconquered county in Africa, which was observed by 72
nations around the world who bowed in recognition of a black empress;
and
WHEREAS,
Empress Itege Menen Asfaw was a kind woman by nature, a mother of six children
with many grandchildren; and
WHEREAS,
Empress Itege Menen exemplified the black woman's role in the struggle for
freedom and equality; and
WHEREAS,
Empress Itege Menen championed many causes related to education in Ethopia by
founding schools for girls and donating money to various educational causes for
the poor and for freed slaves; and
WHEREAS,
Empress Itege Menen Asfaw was instrumental in organizing the women of the world
against war and its horrific realities;
and
WHEREAS, Empress Itege Menen Asfaw's role in education of women, work with the poor, commitment to her spiritual beliefs, and her quiet strength in the face of tribulation has secured a place for her in Ethiopian and world history as a powerful black woman; and
WHEREAS, Empress Itege Menen Asfaw's role in education of women, work with the poor, commitment to her spiritual beliefs, and her quiet strength in the face of tribulation has secured a place for her in Ethiopian and world history as a powerful black woman; and
WHEREAS,
Empress Itege Menen Asfaw was truly deserving of the title of "Queen of Queens"
and, although she has joined the ranks of the holy ancestors, she will forever
live in the hearts of Africans throughout the Diaspora; and
WHEREAS,
Empress of Zion and the Abarra Movement is welcomed by the State of Georgia and
the City of Atlanta in holding its 4th Annual Conference of Rastafari women at
Spelman College on March 23 to March 26, 2006.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that members of this
body recognize and commend Empress Itege Menen Asfaw, the Empress of Zion, and
the Abarra Movement; and proclaim March 25, 2006, as Empress Itege Asfaw Day at
the state capitol.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Empress
of Zion and the Abarra Movement.